Shapewear

Before I went to the Vegas WLS Meet & Greet a few weeks ago, I contacted a few vendors and asked if I could represent them.  I wanted to introduce my extended bariatric family to products that were wonderful and have helped me in my weight loss surgery journey.  One company is Slimpressions.  As most of you may remember, I went through a phase where I was obsessed with shapewear.  Every where I went, I searched for newer and better pieces, spent lots of money and came home to try them out.  Many times (MANY) I was disappointed in what I thought was "the miracle garment."  Then came my Slimpressions.  I loved them and since that time, my search has ended.  I feel just lovely in them!

Back to the Vegas Meet & Greet...  Slimpressions sent me some samples and posters for my table.  I displayed them as we also gave away all the wonderful goodies (Blender Bottles, Labrada Rock 'N Roll bars, samples of Celebrate Vitamins and Building Block Vitamins, Kay's Naturals).  Slimpressions created a discount code especially for my blog readers, and those attending the event (which is WLSMG2010 and ends March 31st) which will give a 10% discount and also they had a special on their Skinny Mini's.  That's not all.  They allowed me to do a drawing and gave away a Skinny Mini!  The winner, BeTheBestMe on You Tube, did a product video review.  I would love to show it to you because, if you're not already a Slimpressions fan, I think you will be won over!

I've heard the hype about Lipo In A Box.  When I heard that they were located ten minutes from where I live, and that they had an Open House, I decided to find out what the hubalub was all about!

March 2009, Lipo In A Box hosted their open house in Old Hickory, Tennessee (I could stand at my back door and throw a rock, hitting their back door!).  They opened their offices so folks could come in and check out their products.  I phoned them to inquire about a product, and they invited me to the showcase. 

Guess who I ran into?  I showed up, and there was a member of my support group members from Obesity Help!  We had an enjoyable time...  even if we did strip off our clothes and try on support garments! I told her that now she has seen parts of me that no other support group member has, and that she needs to keep my secrets hush hush!  Only she knows what's underneath these clothes of mine!

Back to the products!  I purchased a body suit garment, which the legs come midway to my knee.  It has an underwire bra.  The cost of this was $87.40.  It is not exactly what I had in mind, but it did the trick!  I got a size extra small, and it really holds my tummy fat loose skin pocket in very nicely.  I even bent over and looked.  Normally, the fatty pocket pooches out when I bend over, but not this time.  I felt very satisfied with this garment in the stomach area.  

There is a downside to this garment.  If I was making the purchase again, I would have chosen the body suit which the legs came midway to the ankle.  Here is the reason:  garments whose legs are midway to the knee SHOW a crease when I wear pants/slacks.  If the legs end toward the ankle, you do not have the crease.  And, they are much warmer in the winter time!

This microfiber stretchy tank garment is available at Walmart for $15 and comes in two colors: black and tan. It can be used with your own bra or underwear, and the material is very flexible and soft.  It comes in sizes medium through 2X. 

The lower half of the tank is constrictive, the upper half is loose, fitting just right in my breasts/back and underarm area.  I normally wear waist high underwear with legs to the knee, but decided I did not need special underwear with this tank. I could use bikinis and still get the desired result.   There are rows of ribbed support fibers in the stomach area, which act to hold your stomach in.  When I slipped my hands up into the garment and popped them out, the fiber remained taut. I felt this would surely provide a good support.

My theory is:  try before you buy!  Many stores will allow you to try on these types of garments as long as you keep on your underclothes.  But how can I not tell you my humorous Walmart dressing room story?  I took the garment into the dressing room.   I did have my full breast forms on (C cups) and lifted the camisole over my head. I got it just past my boobs, and the garment stopped! I had to tug to get it past, down to where I could tuck it into my jeans. I thought, "Wow, my boobs ARE big!" LOL. But, it is the constriction of the tummy area in the camisole that caused this! It is very controlling and restrictive.  I snapped and zipped my jeans back up, and bent over to see how my tummy skin pooched out. I am not joking, this really held my loose skin in very close. And, the top area near my shoulders and under my arms did not constrict or smoosh anything. It fit so great! It was comfortable... and I could not wait to get it home and start wearing it! It did take me a minute to get it OFF though!

If it's matching garments you're after, this line also has several styles of control underwear made from the same material and colors. 

 

 

After losing massive amounts of weight, some patients are unhappy with the size of their breasts.  This product, True Kare Breast Forms, gives a full breast appearance and have done wonders for my self esteem.

After losing 135 lbs, AND having a breast reduction PRE wls, my breasts are teeny.  There is loose skin but no breast tissue.  I am a perfect candidate for breast implants but at this point, that is not going to happen unless I win the Tennessee Lottery (in which case, I would need to purchase a ticket but won't).  So, next to nothing chance for the implants.

Oh, I've tried all kinds of things:

    * Padded bra
    * Water insert
    * Silicon gel breast insert which looks like a small chicken cutlet
    * Another breast insert which was great, but I still needed something else
    * And now, True Kare Full Breast Forms

I swore by the last breast insert...  it was larger and more real feeling.  But as I searched online reviews, the True Kare brand got a wonderful rating.  I was a little hesitant, I must admit, for fear of disappointment.  But a few days after I ordered, and they showed up on the front porch, that's the moment I fell in love.  These have done wonders for me!  I am not being paid to say these things.  You know that every single ad on my site are for products I use, AND LOVE.

I know there are some of you out there who wish, long and hope for plastic surgery on your breasts.  But, with the economy, its too expensive.  You may want to give these a try.  *The company does have smaller inserts.  These particular ones are for women who basically have nothing (like me).  They are also geared for mastectomy patients.